Volunteering in Atlanta with Caminar Latino
Our volunteers are an integral part of our mission, bringing their unique skills and expertise to help make a difference in the lives of those we serve. Caminar Latino volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines, including psychology, law, social work, accounting, and marketing. They bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience, which they use to provide support and resources to survivors and their families. Through their efforts, our volunteers help to create a safe and nurturing environment where families can begin to heal and rebuild their lives.
One of the key strengths of our volunteer program is the training we provide to our volunteers. We understand the unique realities and concerns of Latino communities in Atlanta and recognize that each family we work with have unique strengths and challenges. Our volunteers are trained to cultivate the skills necessary to work with underserved groups within the broader Latino community, ensuring that our services are tailored to meet the specific needs of the survivors we serve.
The impact of our volunteers is truly remarkable. They provide critical support in a number of areas, including:
Facilitating age-specific care and support
Volunteers co-facilitate much-needed sharing groups for Latino youth exposed to violence, which allows survivors to attend support groups and other programming without worrying about the safety and well-being of their children.
Providing emotional support
Volunteers offer a listening ear and a supportive presence for children who have experienced violence. By being a compassionate and understanding adult, volunteers can help youth process their emotions, express themselves, and build trust.
Mentoring and role modeling
Volunteers serve as positive role models for children and youth, demonstrating healthy behaviors, values, and life skills. By engaging in activities together and offering guidance, volunteers help children develop resilience, self-esteem, and positive coping strategies.
Organizing community activities
Our volunteers help to organize events and activities that bring survivors and their families together, providing a sense of community and support. The activities offer the families a chance to have fun and express themselves creatively, while providing a safe and enjoyable environment.
Long-term Impact
In addition to their direct service work, our volunteers also play a key role in helping to train and mentor future professionals in the field. We serve as a training and research site for university graduate and undergraduate students, providing them with hands-on experience working with Latino families impacted by domestic violence.
We are grateful for the dedication and commitment of our volunteers. All direct service volunteers are required to make a 6-month commitment, but many stay with us for much longer. Thanks to the tremendous support Caminar Latino receives from the local community, between 20-25 volunteers provide approximately 500 hours per year of in-kind support. Our volunteers truly are the programmatic lifeline of Caminar Latino – Latinos United for Peace and Equity, and we are honored to have them as part of our family. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact Paloma Baldovinos at volunteer@caminarlatino.org.